On Saturday, 20 September, more than 130 dykes from across the UK will lace up their boots and hike 26 miles, the length of the Gaza Strip, to raise awareness of the ongoing destruction in Palestine and fundraise for aid on the ground.
The action, called Dykes Against Airstrikes, is being organised in association with Dykes Who Hike, a dyke-run movement creating sober, outdoor spaces for queer women and allies. The hikes will take place simultaneously in Norwich, Manchester and Leeds, each lasting around 12 hours.
This 26-mile figure isn’t random. It’s the exact length of the Gaza Strip, an area only a quarter of the size of Greater London. The group hopes that by walking this distance, people will visualise just how concentrated the devastation has been.
What they’re fundraising for
Dykes Against Airstrikes are raising money for Gaza Sunbirds, a Palestinian-led grassroots organisation that’s been distributing food and essentials to communities in Gaza that are unreachable by larger Non-Governmental Organisations. Originally formed as a para-cycling team for amputees, Gaza Sunbirds have pivoted to urgent aid work since the war escalated, already delivering over $400,000 worth of supplies.
The UK hikers have upped their goal to £12,500. At the time of writing, they’ve already hit their original goal of £10,000. You can donate via their JustGiving page.
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The importance of this fundraiser
Before the war, the Gaza Strip was home to 2.3 million people. By 2024, that number had dropped by 6%. Life expectancy has halved from 75.5 to 40.5 years.
“The utter destruction and devastation of the Gaza Strip and the killing of thousands of Palestinian civilians living there, conducted by the Israeli military, is a breach of international law.”
say Nic Mitchell and Lizzie Byrne, organisers of Dykes Who Hike Norwich. “Through Dykes Against Airstrikes, we are committed to making a tangible difference by supporting Gaza Sunbirds distributing aid on the ground in Gaza.”
About the groups involved
- Dykes Against Airstrikes
A dyke-run movement in the UK aiming to fundraise for essential aid distribution in Gaza, educate on the scale of the violence, and advocate for an end to the genocide and a free Palestine. - Dykes Who Hike
Founded in London in spring 2024, DWH offers a safe, sober space for dykes outside nightlife. There are now groups in London, Manchester, Leeds, Norwich and Shropshire.- London: @dykeswhohikeldn
- Norwich: @dykeswhohikenrw
- Manchester: @dykeswhohikemcr__
- Leeds: @dykeswhohikeleeds
- Shropshire: @dykeswhohikeshrop
- Gaza Sunbirds
A Palestinian-led grassroots organisation originally focused on para-cycling for amputees in Gaza. Since the escalation of violence, they’ve redirected their network of staff, athletes and volunteers to secure and distribute essentials, sourcing from local farms and warehouses to meet urgent needs directly. Find out more about Gaza Sunbirds.
The details you actually need:
- What: 26-mile solidarity hikes with Dykes Against Airstrikes
- When: Saturday 20 September
- Where: Norwich, Manchester and Leeds (simultaneous hikes)
- Fundraising goal: £12,500 for Gaza Sunbirds.
- Donate: JustGiving link
Nonchalant x
This article was written by one of our creative team writers here at Nonchalant Magazine.
